Medical visualization system

ABSTRACT

A medical visualisation system including a first medical visualisation device having a first device colour identifier, a second medical visualisation device having a second device colour identifier, a third medical visualisation device having a third device colour identifier, and a monitor device, the first device colour identifier being a first colour, the second device colour identifier being a second colour, and the third device colour identifier being a third colour. The first colour has a first hue angle, the second colour has a second hue angle, and the third colour has a third hue angle, wherein the first hue angle and the second hue angle differ by more than 40 degrees, the second hue angle and the third hue angle differ by more than 40 degrees, and the third hue angle and the first hue angle differ by more than 40 degrees.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority from Denmark Patent Application No. PA2020 70115, filed Feb. 21, 2020, and Denmark Patent Application No. PA2020 70283, filed May 4, 2020, both applications incorporated herein byreference in their entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to a medical visualisation system, suchas a medical visualisation system comprising a plurality of medicalvisualisation devices, e.g. endoscopes, and a monitor device.

BACKGROUND

Medical visualisation devices, such as endoscopes may, althoughconceptually being alike, be used for very different medical procedures.Although conceptually being alike, the medical visualisation devices maystill comprise important differences. Therefore, it is not unimportantwhat type of medical visualisation device is used in a given procedure.

For example, an endoscope may conceptually comprise a handle and aninsertion tube extending from the handle to a distal tube end. Theendoscope may be configured to generate a view from the distal tube endof the insertion tube. Furthermore, the handle may comprise controlmechanisms to bend the distal tube end in various directions. However,endoscopes for different procedures may vary, e.g., by their controlfunctionality, the diameter of the insertion tube, the length of theinsertion tube, etc.

Although differences between endoscope types may be notably, it may bepreferred if the intended use of endoscopes or other medicalvisualisation devices can be quickly identified.

SUMMARY

It is an object of the present disclosure to provide a medicalvisualisation system, which facilitates easy identification of devicetypes, and their compatibility.

Thus, the present disclosure relates to a medical visualisation systemcomprising a plurality of medical visualisation devices, e.g. a firstmedical visualisation device, a second medical visualisation device, athird medical visualisation device. The medical visualisation systemfurther comprises a monitor device.

The first medical visualisation device comprises a first image sensorand a first connector. The second medical visualisation device comprisesa second image sensor and a second connector. The third medicalvisualisation device comprises a third image sensor and a thirdconnector.

The monitor device comprises one or more connector ports. Each of theone or more connector ports is adapted to receive one or more of thefirst connector, the second connector and the third connector.

The first medical visualisation device may be a first device typeconfigured for a first clinical purpose. The second medicalvisualisation device is a second device type configured for a secondclinical purpose. The third medical visualisation device is a thirddevice type configured for a third clinical purpose.

The first medical visualisation device comprises a first device colouridentifier. The second medical visualisation device comprises a seconddevice colour identifier. The third medical visualisation devicecomprises a third device colour identifier. The first device colouridentifier is a first colour. The second device colour identifier is asecond colour. The third device colour identifier is a third colour.

The first colour has a first hue angle. The second colour has a secondhue angle. The third colour has a third hue angle. The first hue angleand the second hue angle differ by more than 40 degrees. The second hueangle and the third hue angle differ by more than 40 degrees. The thirdhue angle and the first hue angle differ by more than 40 degrees.

It is an advantage of the disclosure that easy identification of thedevice type is provided, which provides for faster retrieval of thecorrect device, and reduces the likelihood of unpacking a wrong devicefor a given clinical procedure. Distributing colours to the identifiersby specifying minimum differences between hue angles of different colouridentifiers facilitates more easily distinguishable identifiers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

Embodiments of the disclosure will be described in more detail in thefollowing with regard to the accompanying figures. The figures show oneway of implementing the present disclosure and are not to be construedas being limiting to other possible embodiments falling within the scopeof the attached claim set.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating an exemplary visualisationsystem, and

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating a plurality of containerswith medical visualisation devices.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Colours may be defined in many ways. For example, a colour may bedefined by its relative amount of red, green and blue light, the “RGB”colour space, typically used in computer graphics. Alternatively, acolour may be defined by its relative amount of cyan, magenta, yellowand key dies, the CMYK colour space, typically used in printing. Otherwell-established colour systems are the colour spaces defined by theInternational Commission on Illumination (CIE), which, among othersinclude CIEL*a*b* and CIELCh. Throughout the present disclosure, unlessspecified otherwise, colour parameters are given with reference to theCIELCh colour space, where lightness is in the range 0-100, chroma is inthe range 0-100, and hue is in the range 0-360.

Some colour spaces, such as the HSL and CIELCh—colour spaces, aredefined in terms of lightness, hue, and chroma/saturation. HSL isgenerally an alternative representation of the RGB colour space, whileCIELCh is generally an alternative representation of the CIEL*a*b*colour space.

Lightness of a colour describes overall intensity of how light or dark acolour is. Lightness may be in the range of 0-100 (in otherimplementations the range may be 0 to 1). For the CIELCh and HSL colourspaces a Lightness of 0 is black, i.e. no light, while a Lightness of100 is white, i.e. maximum light.

Hue is the term for the pure spectrum colours commonly referred to bythe “colour names”—red, orange, yellow, blue, green, violet, etc.—whichappear in the hue circle or rainbow. Hue may be representedquantitatively by a single number, e.g. corresponding to an angularposition, e.g. in the range of 0-360 degrees, around a central orneutral point or axis on a colour space coordinate diagram (such as achromaticity diagram) or colour wheel. For example, a Hue of 0 degreesmay be a red colour, while a Hue of 180 degrees in the HSL colour spaceis a turquoise colour, a Hue of 180 degrees in the CIELCh colour spaceis a green colour.

Chroma or Saturation may be defined as the strength or dominance of thehue. On the outer edge of the hue wheel are the intensely saturatedhues, towards the centre of the colour wheel, no hue dominates, and theybecome less and less saturated. Chroma or Saturation may be in the rangeof 0-100 (in other implementations the range may be 0 to 1). For a fullysaturated colour, e.g. a pure colour, Chroma or Saturation may be 100.For a grey scale colour, e.g. no “colour”, Chroma or Saturation may be0.

As the hue angles designate descriptive colours, Hue angles may be usedto designate colours allowing easy differentiation. Bigger angular huedifferences between two colours makes the colours more descriptivelydifferent. Hence, it may be easier to orally refer to two differentcolours if they are spaced by a higher hue angle, since they may bedescribed by their common names, red, orange, yellow, blue green, violetetc.

The first medical visualisation device is a first device type configuredfor a first clinical purpose. The first clinical purpose may be urology.For example, the first device type may be a urology endoscope, such as acystoscope or a ureteroscope. The second medical visualisation device isa second device type device configured for a second clinical purpose.The second clinical purpose may be gastroenterology. For example, thesecond device type may be a gastro-intestinal endoscope, such as agastroscope, a duodenoscope or a colonoscope. The third medicalvisualisation device is a third device type configured for a thirdclinical purpose. The third clinical purpose may be pulmonology. Forexample, the third device type may be a pulmonology endoscope, such as abronchoscope.

The medical visualisation system may comprise a fourth medicalvisualisation device comprising a fourth image sensor and a fourthconnector. The fourth medical visualisation device may be a fourthdevice type, e.g. configured for a fourth clinical purpose. The fourthclinical purpose may be rhinoscopy. For example, the fourth device typemay be a rhino-laryngoscope.

As seen from the examples, the second clinical purpose may be differentfrom the first clinical purpose, the third clinical purpose may bedifferent from the first clinical purpose and/or the second clinicalpurpose, and/or the fourth clinical purpose may be different from thefirst clinical purpose, the second clinical purpose and/or the thirdclinical purpose. The second device type may be different from the firstdevice type, the third device type may be different from the firstdevice type and/or the second device type, and/or the fourth device typemay be different from the first device type, the second device typeand/or the third device type.

The fourth medical visualisation device may comprise a fourth devicecolour identifier. The fourth device colour identifier may be a fourthcolour. The fourth colour may have a fourth hue angle. The fourth hueangle may differ by more than 40 degrees from the first hue angle, thesecond hue angle, and/or the third hue angle.

The first hue angle and the second hue angle may differ by more than 80degrees, e.g. by more than 140 degrees.

The first hue angle may be between 90-120 degrees. The second hue anglemay be between 250-280 degrees. The third hue angle may be between 5-35degrees. The fourth hue angle may be between 310-340 degrees.

The first colour may have a first chroma value. The first chroma valuemay be more than 10, such as more than 20, such as more than 35, such asmore than 50, such as more than 60, such as more than 70. The secondcolour may have a second chroma value. The second chroma value may bemore than 10, such as more than 20, such as more than 35. The thirdcolour may have a third chroma value. The third chroma value may be morethan 10, such as more than 20, such as more than 35, such as more than50, such as more than 55. The fourth colour may have a fourth chromavalue. The fourth chroma value may be more than 10, such as more than20, such as more than 35, such as more than 50, such as more than 60.

The first colour may have a first lightness value. The first lightnessvalue may be more than 5, such as more than 10, such as more than 20,such as more than 30, such as more than 50, such as more than 65. Thesecond colour may have a second lightness value. The second lightnessvalue may be more than 5, such as more than 10, such as more than 20,such as more than 25. The third colour may have a third lightness value.The third lightness value may be more than 5, such as more than 10, suchas more than 20, such as more than 30. The fourth colour may have afourth lightness value. The fourth lightness value may be more than 5,such as more than 10, such as more than 20, such as more than 30, suchas more than 35.

The first colour may be Pantone 390, e.g. having a lightness value ofapproximately 74, a chroma value of approximately 77 and a hue angle ofapproximately 105 in the CIELCh colour space. The second colour may bePantone 301, e.g. having a lightness value of approximately 31, a chromavalue of approximately 39 and a hue angle of approximately 277 in theCIELCh colour space. The third colour may be Pantone 1945, e.g. having alightness value of approximately 35, a chroma value of approximately 61and a hue angle of approximately 15 in the CIELCh colour space. Thefourth colour may be Pantone 2593, e.g. having a lightness value ofapproximately 37, a chroma value of approximately 66 and a hue angle ofapproximately 321 in the CIELCh colour space.

The first medical visualisation device, the second medical visualisationdevice, the third medical visualisation device and/or the fourth medicalvisualisation device each may comprise a handle and an insertion tubeextending from the handle to a distal tube end. The handle, i.e. thehandle of any of the first, second, third and/or fourth medicalvisualisation devices, may comprise one or more shell parts, e.g. afirst shell part and/or a second shell part. The first shell part andthe second shell part may be connectable or be connected to each other,e.g. by snap locking elements, ultrasonic welding and/or by glue. Thehandle may comprise one or more other parts, such as a control knob, agrip surface, a transition portion etc., which may be attached to theshell part(s) and/or may be maintained by the shell part(s). Forexample, the control knob may extend from the handle and be connected toa control mechanism supported by the first shell part and/or the secondshell part. The grip surface may be provided to increase friction of thehandle to facilitate a firm grip on the handle. The grip surface may beglued or ultrasonic welded to the surface of the shell part(s). Atransition portion may be provided at the interface between the handleand the insertion tube. For example, the transition portion may enclosea proximal portion of the insertion tube. The transition portion mayseal the interface between the handle and the insertion tube. Forexample, the transition portion may comprise or form a sealing member,such as a flexible part, e.g. configured to provide a tight seal aroundthe proximal portion of the insertion tube.

The first device colour identifier may comprise one or more colouredportions of the handle and/or of the insertion tube of the first medicalvisualisation device. For example, the first device colour identifiermay include colouring of a control knob of the first medicalvisualisation device and/or of an area of the handle near the insertiontube of the first medical visualisation device, such as the transitionportion as described above. The majority, such as the remainder, of thehandle, such as the shell part(s) of the handle, and/or the insertiontube of the first medical visualisation device may be a white, lightgreyish, dark greyish or black colour.

The second device colour identifier may comprise one or more colouredportions of the handle and/or of the insertion tube of the secondmedical visualisation device. For example, the second device colouridentifier may include colouring of a control knob of the second medicalvisualisation device and/or of an area of the handle near the insertiontube of the second medical visualisation device, such as the transitionportion as described above. The majority, such as the remainder, of thehandle, such as the shell part(s) of the handle, and/or the insertiontube of the second medical visualisation device may be a white, lightgreyish, dark greyish or black colour.

The third device colour identifier may comprise one or more colouredportions of the handle and/or of the insertion tube of the third medicalvisualisation device. For example, the third device colour identifiermay include colouring of a control knob of the third medicalvisualisation device and/or of an area of the handle near the insertiontube of the third medical visualisation device, such as the transitionportion as described above. The majority, such as the remainder, of thehandle, such as the shell part(s) of the handle, and/or the insertiontube of the third medical visualisation device may be a white, lightgreyish, dark greyish or black colour.

The fourth device colour identifier may comprise one or more colouredportions of the handle and/or of the insertion tube of the fourthmedical visualisation device. For example, the fourth device colouridentifier may include colouring of a control knob of the fourth medicalvisualisation device and/or of an area of the handle near the insertiontube of the fourth medical visualisation device, such as the transitionportion as described above. The majority, such as the remainder, of thehandle, such as the shell part(s) of the handle, and/or the insertiontube of the fourth medical visualisation device may be a white, lightgreyish, dark greyish or black colour.

Each of the medical visualisation device(s) may be individually packagedin a packaging, such as a sealed packaging, e.g. to maintain sterilityof the device. The first medical visualisation device may be packaged ina first packaging. The second medical visualisation device may bepackaged in a second packaging. The third medical visualisation devicemay be packaged in a third packaging. The fourth medical visualisationdevice may be packaged in a fourth packaging. The medical visualisationdevice(s) may be provided in a container comprising a plurality ofmedical visualisation devices. For example, the first medicalvisualisation device may be provided in a first container of a pluralityof first medical visualisation devices. The second medical visualisationdevice may be provided in a second container of a plurality of secondmedical visualisation devices. The third medical visualisation devicemay be provided in a third container of a plurality of third medicalvisualisation devices. The fourth medical visualisation device may beprovided in a fourth container of a plurality of fourth medicalvisualisation devices.

The packagings and/or containers may be provided with a colour markingcorresponding to the colour marking of the respective device. Forexample, the first packaging may comprise a first packaging colouridentifier, which may be of the first colour. The first container maycomprise a first container colour identifier, which may be of the firstcolour. The second packaging may comprise a second packaging colouridentifier, which may be of the second colour. The second container maycomprise a second container colour identifier, which may be of thesecond colour. The third packaging may comprise a third packaging colouridentifier, which may be of the third colour. The third container maycomprise a third container colour identifier, which may be of the thirdcolour. The fourth packaging may comprise a fourth packaging colouridentifier, which may be of the fourth colour. The fourth container maycomprise a fourth container colour identifier, which may be of thefourth colour.

By providing the packagings and/or containers with colour codingindicating the type of medical visualisation device, the likelihood ofunpacking a wrong device for a given clinical procedure is reduced.Alternatively or additionally, the packaging(s) may be at least partlytransparent to facilitate the same, e.g. to allow the operator toidentify colour markings on the medical visualisation device inside thepackaging.

The first medical visualisation device, the second medical visualisationdevice, the third medical visualisation device and/or the fourth medicalvisualisation device may be configured to generate a view from thedistal end of the insertion tube, e.g. by the image sensor, which may bearranged at the distal tube end.

The first image sensor and the second image sensor may be a similarimage sensor type, e.g. a primary image sensor type. The first imagesensor may be the primary image sensor type. The second image sensor maybe the primary image sensor type. The one or more connector ports mayinclude a primary connector port. The primary connector port may beadapted to receive the first connector. The primary connector port maybe adapted to receive the second connector. The primary connector portmay be adapted to receive connectors of visualisation devices comprisingan image sensor being the primary image sensor type.

The third image sensor may be a secondary image sensor type. The one ormore connector ports may include a secondary connector port. Thesecondary connector port may be adapted to receive the third connector.The secondary connector port may be adapted to receive connectors ofvisualisation devices comprising an image sensor being the secondaryimage sensor type.

The fourth image sensor may be the primary image sensor type, thesecondary image sensor type or a tertiary image sensor type.

The connectors may comprise connector colour identifiers indicative ofthe image sensor type of the respective medical visualisation device.The first connector may comprise a first connector colour identifier.The second connector may comprise a second connector colour identifier.The third connector may comprise a third connector colour identifier.The fourth connector may comprise a fourth connector colour identifier.The connector ports may comprise port colour identifiers indicative ofthe image sensor type which are compatible with the respective connectorport. The primary connector port may comprise a primary port colouridentifier. The secondary connector port may comprise a secondary portcolour identifier. The first connector colour identifier, the secondconnector colour identifier and the primary port colour identifier maybe a primary connector colour indicative of the primary image sensortype. The third connector colour identifier, optionally the fourthconnector colour identifier and the secondary port colour identifier maybe a secondary connector colour indicative of the secondary image sensortype.

The primary connector colour may have a primary connector hue angle. Thesecondary connector colour may have a secondary connector hue angle. Theprimary connector hue angle and the secondary connector hue angle maydiffer by more than 40 degrees. Thereby, the image sensor types may becolour-coded, to facilitate easy recognition of compatible connectorsand connector ports.

The primary connector colour may have a primary connector chroma value.The primary connector chroma value may be more than 10, such as morethan 20, such as more than 35, such as more than 50, such as more than60, such as more than 70. The secondary connector colour may have asecondary connector chroma value. The secondary connector chroma valuemay be more than 10, such as more than 20, such as more than 35, such asmore than 50, such as more than 60, such as more than 70.

The primary connector colour may have a primary connector lightnessvalue. The primary connector lightness value may be more than 5, such asmore than 10, such as more than 20, such as more than 30, such as morethan 50. The secondary connector colour may have a secondary connectorlightness value. The secondary connector lightness value may be morethan 5, such as more than 10, such as more than 20, such as more than30, such as more than 50.

Various exemplary embodiments and details are described hereinafter,with reference to the figures when relevant. It should be noted that thefigures may or may not be drawn to scale and that elements of similarstructures or functions are represented by like reference numeralsthroughout the figures. It should also be noted that the figures areonly intended to facilitate the description of the embodiments. They arenot intended as an exhaustive description of the invention or as alimitation on the scope of the invention. In addition, an illustratedembodiment needs not have all the aspects or advantages shown. An aspector an advantage described in conjunction with a particular embodiment isnot necessarily limited to that embodiment and can be practiced in anyother embodiments even if not so illustrated, or if not so explicitlydescribed.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating an exemplary visualisationsystem 2 comprising exemplary first medical visualisation device 100,second medical visualisation device 200, third medical visualisationdevice 300, and fourth medical visualisation device 400, illustrated inFIG. 1A, and an exemplary monitor device 10, illustrated in FIG. 1B.

Each of the visualisation devices 100, 200, 300, 400 comprises a handle102, 202, 302, 304 and an insertion tube 104, 204, 304, 404. Theinsertion tube 104, 204, 304, 404 extends from the handle 102, 202, 302,304, e.g. from a proximal tube end 106, 206, 306, 406, to a distal tubeend 108, 208, 308, 408. The insertion tube 104, 204, 304, 404 may be atleast partly flexible, and may comprise a bendable section, e.g. nearthe distal tube end 108, 208, 308, 408, which may be operated to directthe distal tube end 108, 208, 308, 408 in a desired direction. Themedical visualisation devices 100, 200, 300, 400 may comprises controlknobs 110, 210, 310, 410, which may be operated to direct the distaltube end 108, 208, 308, 408 in a desired direction.

Each of the visualisation devices 100, 200, 300, 400 may comprise animage sensor 112, 212, 312, 412, which may be arranged at the distaltube end 108, 208, 308, 408, as illustrated. In other embodiments, theimage sensor 112, 212, 312, 412 may be arranged at a distance from thedistal tube end 108, 208, 308, 408, and fibre optics may transmit thelight received from the distal tube end 108, 208, 308, 408 to the imagesensor 112, 212, 312, 412.

Each of the visualisation devices 100, 200, 300, 400 comprises aconnector 114, 214, 314, 414 configured to be received by a connectorport 12, 14, 16 of the monitor device 10, such as to allow display, on adisplay 18 of the monitor device 10, of an image representative of aview from the distal tube end 108, 208, 308, 408 of the visualisationdevice 100, 200, 300, 400, e.g. from the image sensor 112, 212, 312,412. In some embodiments, the monitor device 10 may be configured totransmit an image signal to an external display (not shown), to allowdisplay on the external display of the image representative of the viewfrom the distal tube end 108, 208, 308, 408. In some embodiments, themonitor device 10 may be devoid of a display.

The medical visualisation devices 100, 200, 300, 400 may be configuredfor different types of clinical procedures. For example, the firstmedical visualisation device 100 device may be a first device typeconfigured for a first clinical purpose, e.g. urology. The secondmedical visualisation device 200 may be a second device type configuredfor a second clinical purpose, e.g. gastroenterology. The third medicalvisualisation device 300 may be a third device type configured for athird clinical purpose, e.g. pulmonology. The fourth medicalvisualisation device 400 may be a fourth device type configured for afourth clinical purpose, e.g. rhinoscopy.

Each of the visualisation devices 100, 200, 300, 400 comprises a devicecolour identifier indicative of the clinical purpose of thevisualisation device. The first medical visualisation device 100comprises a first device colour identifier 116 being a first colour. Thesecond medical visualisation device 200 comprises a second device colouridentifier 216 being a second colour. The third medical visualisationdevice 300 comprises a third device colour identifier 316 being a thirdcolour. The fourth medical visualisation device 400 comprises a fourthdevice colour identifier 416 being a fourth colour.

The device colour identifiers 116, 216, 316, 416 may comprise one ormore coloured portions of the handle and/or of the insertion tube of therespective device. For example, the device colour identifier may includecolouring of the control knob 110, 210, 310, 410 and/or of an interfacebetween the handle 102, 202, 302, 304 and the insertion tube 104, 204,304, 404, e.g. a transition portion of the handle 102, 202, 302, 304,which may enclose a proximal portion of the insertion tube 104, 204,304, 404. The majority, such as the remainder, of the handle and/or theinsertion tube may be a white, light greyish, dark greyish or blackcolour.

To distinguish the colours of the device colour identifiers 116, 216,316, 416, and allow easy oral reference to them, the colours are chosento differ by a minimum hue angle, e.g. as defined by the CIELCh colourspace. Thus, a hue angle of each of the colours may differ by more than40 degrees from hue angles of the other colours. Thereby, the colour ofthe device colour identifiers 116, 216, 316, 416, provides for easyidentification of the device type, and reduces the likelihood ofunpacking a wrong device for a given clinical procedure.

The image sensors 112, 212, 312, 412 of the medical visualisationdevices 100, 200, 300, 400 may be different, but may also be the samefor some of the devices, although their intended clinical procedures aredifferent. For example, some of the image sensors 112, 212, 312, 412 maydiffer by image resolution. In an example, the first image sensor 112and the second image sensor 212 is of a similar image sensor type, e.g.a primary image sensor type, and the third image sensor 312 and thefourth image sensor 412 is of another similar image sensor type, e.g. asecondary image sensor type.

The connector ports 12, 14, 16 of the monitor device 10 include aprimary connector port 12 adapted to receive connectors of visualisationdevices comprising image sensors of the primary image sensor type, i.e.the first connector 114 and the second connector 214. The connectorports 12, 14, 16 further includes a secondary connector port 14 adaptedto receive connectors of visualisation devices comprising image sensorsof the secondary image sensor type, i.e. the third connector 314 and thefourth connector 414. The connector ports 12, 14, 16 may, asillustrated, by provided on the side of the monitor device 10, e.g.protruding from the side of the monitor device 10.

To allow easy reference of the compatibility between connectors andconnector ports, the connector and the connector ports may be providedwith colour identifiers. For example, the first connector 114 maycomprise a first connector colour identifier 118 being a primaryconnector colour indicative of the primary image sensor type. The secondconnector 214 may comprise a second connector colour identifier 218being the primary connector colour, i.e. the same as the first connectorcolour identifier 118, indicative of the primary image sensor type. Thethird connector 314 may comprise a third connector colour identifier 318being a secondary connector colour, e.g. different from the primaryconnector colour, indicative of the secondary image sensor type. Thefourth connector 414 may comprise a fourth connector colour identifier418 being the secondary connector colour indicative of the secondaryimage sensor type.

The primary connector port 12, adapted to receive connectors ofvisualisation devices comprising image sensors of the primary imagesensor type, comprises a primary port colour identifier 13, being theprimary connector colour. The secondary connector port 14, adapted toreceive connectors of visualisation devices comprising image sensors ofthe secondary image sensor type, comprises a secondary port colouridentifier 15, being the secondary connector colour.

By the provision of the connector ports 12, 14, 16, and particularly theport colour identifiers 13, 15, to protrude from the side of the monitordevice, the connector ports 12, 14, 16 and/or the port colouridentifiers 13, 15 may be easily localised and recognised from a frontview of the monitor device 10.

To distinguish the colours of the connector colours, the colours may bechosen to differ by a minimum hue angle, e.g. as defined by the CIELChcolour space. Thus, a hue angle of each of the connector colours maydiffer by more than 40 degrees from hue angles of the other connectorcolours. Thereby, the connector colours, provides for easyidentification of the image sensor technology and facilitates easyidentification of compatible connectors and connector ports.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating a plurality of containers124, 224, 324, 424 with a plurality of packaged medical visualisationdevices 100, 200, 300, 400. Each of the medical visualisation devices100, 200, 300, 400 are individually packaged in a packaging 120, 220,320, 420, which may be sealed to maintain sterility of the device.

The plurality of first medical visualisation devices 100 are packaged infirst packagings 120. The plurality of second medical visualisationdevices 200 are packaged in second packagings 220. The plurality ofthird medical visualisation devices 300 are packaged in third packagings320. The plurality of fourth medical visualisation devices 400 arepackaged in fourth packagings 420.

The medical visualisation devices 100, 200, 300, 400 are provided incontainers 124, 224, 324, 424. The first medical visualisation devices100 are provided in a first container 124. The second medicalvisualisation devices 200 are provided in a second container 224. Thethird medical visualisation devices 300 are provided in a thirdcontainer 324. The fourth medical visualisation devices are provided ina fourth container 424.

The packagings 120, 220, 320, 420 and the containers 124, 224, 324, 424are provided with colour identifiers corresponding to the colouridentifier of the respective devices 100, 200, 300, 400. For example,the first packagings 120 comprise first packaging colour identifiers122, which may be of the first colour, i.e. the same colour as describedabove for the first device colour identifier 116 (see FIG. 1).Furthermore, the first container 124 comprises a first container colouridentifier 126, which may also be of the first colour. The secondpackagings 220 comprise second packaging colour identifiers 222, whichmay be of the second colour, i.e. the same colour as described above forthe second device colour identifier 216 (see FIG. 1). Furthermore, thesecond container 224 comprises a second container colour identifier 226,which may also be of the first colour. The third packagings 320 comprisethird packaging colour identifiers 322, which may be of the thirdcolour, i.e. the same colour as described above for the third devicecolour identifier 316 (see FIG. 1). Furthermore, the third container 324comprises a third container colour identifier 326, which may also be ofthe third colour. The fourth packagings 420 comprise fourth packagingcolour identifiers 422, which may be of the fourth colour, i.e. the samecolour as described above for the fourth device colour identifier 416(see FIG. 1). Furthermore, the fourth container 424 comprises a fourthcontainer colour identifier 426, which may also be of the fourth colour.

The disclosure has been described with reference to a preferredembodiment. However, the scope of the invention is not limited to theillustrated embodiment, and alterations and modifications can be carriedout without deviating from the scope of the invention.

Throughout the description, the use of the terms “first”, “second”,“third”, “fourth”, “primary”, “secondary”, “tertiary” etc. does notimply any particular order or importance but are included to identifyindividual elements. Furthermore, the labelling of a first element doesnot imply the presence of a second element and vice versa.

LIST OF REFERENCES

-   -   2 Medical visualisation system    -   10 monitor device    -   12 primary connector port    -   14 secondary connector port    -   16 tertiary connector port    -   18 display    -   100 first medical visualisation device    -   102 first handle    -   104 first insertion tube    -   106 first proximal tube end    -   108 first distal tube end    -   110 first control knob    -   112 first image sensor    -   114 first connector    -   116 first device colour identifier    -   118 first connector colour identifier    -   120 first packaging    -   122 first packaging colour identifier    -   124 first container    -   126 first container colour identifier    -   200 second medical visualisation device    -   202 second handle    -   204 second insertion tube    -   206 second proximal tube end    -   208 second distal tube end    -   210 second control knob    -   212 second image sensor    -   214 second connector    -   216 second device colour identifier    -   218 second connector colour identifier    -   220 second packaging    -   222 second packaging colour identifier    -   224 second container    -   226 second container colour identifier    -   300 third medical visualisation device    -   302 third handle    -   304 third insertion tube    -   306 third proximal tube end    -   308 third distal tube end    -   310 third control knob    -   312 third image sensor    -   314 third connector    -   316 third device colour identifier    -   318 third connector colour identifier    -   320 third packaging    -   322 third packaging colour identifier    -   324 third container    -   326 third container colour identifier    -   400 fourth medical visualisation device    -   402 fourth handle    -   404 fourth insertion tube    -   406 fourth proximal tube end    -   408 fourth distal tube end    -   410 fourth control knob    -   412 fourth image sensor    -   414 fourth connector    -   416 fourth device colour identifier    -   418 fourth connector colour identifier    -   420 fourth packaging    -   422 fourth packaging colour identifier    -   424 fourth container    -   426 fourth container colour identifier

We claim:
 1. A medical visualisation system comprising: a first medicalvisualisation device of a first device type and including a first imagesensor, a first connector, and a first device color identifiercorresponding to the first device type, the first device coloridentifier comprising a first color; a second medical visualisationdevice of a second device type and including a second image sensor, asecond connector, and a second device color identifier corresponding tothe second device type, the second device color identifier comprising asecond color different than the first color; a third medicalvisualisation device of a third device type and including a third imagesensor, a third connector, and a third device color identifiercorresponding to the third device type, the third device coloridentifier comprising a third color different than the first color andthe second color; and a monitor device comprising connector portsadapted to receive the first connector, the second connector, and thethird connector.
 2. The medical visualisation system of claim 1, whereinthe first color has a first hue angle and the second color has a secondhue angle, and the first hue angle and the second hue angle differ bymore than 80 degrees.
 3. The medical visualisation system of claim 1,wherein the first device type is a urology endoscope, the second devicetype is a gastro-intestinal endoscope, and the third device type is apulmonology endoscope.
 4. The medical visualisation system of claim 1,wherein the first color has a first hue angle that is between 90-120degrees, the second color has a second hue angle that is between 250-280degrees, and the third color has a third hue angle that is between 5-35degrees.
 5. The medical visualisation system according to claim 1,further comprising a fourth medical visualisation device of a fourthdevice type and including a fourth image sensor, a fourth connector, anda fourth device color identifier corresponding to the fourth devicetype, the fourth device color identifier comprising a fourth color. 6.The medical visualisation system of claim 5, wherein the fourth devicetype is a rhino-laryngo endoscope.
 7. The medical visualisation systemof claim 1, wherein the first color has a first chroma value, the secondcolor has a second chroma value, and the third color has a third chromavalue, and wherein the first chroma value, the second chroma value, andthe third chroma value, in a range of 0-100, are more than
 10. 8. Themedical visualisation system of claim 1, wherein the first color has afirst lightness value, the second color has a second lightness value,and the third color has a third lightness value, and wherein the firstlightness value, the second lightness value, and the third lightnessvalue, in a range of 0-100, are more than
 5. 9. The medicalvisualisation system of claim 8, wherein the first color has a firstchroma value, the second color has a second chroma value, and the thirdcolor has a third chroma value, wherein the first chroma value, thesecond chroma value, and the third chroma value, in a range of 0-100,are more than
 10. 10. The medical visualisation system of claim 1,wherein the first image sensor is of a primary image sensor type, andthe second image sensor is of the primary image sensor type, and whereinone of the connector ports comprises a primary connector port adapted toreceive the first connector and the second connector, wherein theprimary connector port comprises a primary port color identifier, andwherein the primary port color identifier is a primary connector colorindicative of the primary image sensor type.
 11. The medicalvisualisation system of claim 10, wherein the third image sensor is asecondary image sensor type, and wherein the connector ports comprise asecondary connector port adapted to receive the third connector, whereinthe secondary connector port comprises a secondary port coloridentifier, and wherein the secondary port color identifier is asecondary connector color.
 12. The medical visualisation system of claim11, wherein the primary connector color has a primary connector hueangle, the secondary connector color has a secondary connector hueangle, and wherein the primary connector hue angle and the secondaryconnector hue angle differ by more than 40 degrees.
 13. The medicalvisualisation system of claim 1, wherein the first medical visualisationdevice, the second medical visualisation device, and the third medicalvisualisation device each comprises a handle and an insertion tubeextending from the handle to a distal tube end.
 14. The medicalvisualisation system of claim 13, wherein the monitor device is adaptedto transmit an image signal to an external display to present images,via the external display, of images representative of views from thedistal tube ends.
 15. The medical visualisation system of claim 14,wherein the monitor device is devoid of a display.
 16. The medicalvisualisation system of claim 13, wherein the monitor device comprises adisplay sized and shaped to present images representative of views fromthe distal tube ends.
 17. The medical visualisation system of claim 1,wherein the monitor device is sized and structured to receive,concurrently, the first connector, the second connector, and the thirdconnector.